Views About Air Dry Clays For Practice?

[MKathleen]

Hello:

I would like to work with clay, not having a kiln I bought some "Dry Hard" self hardening clay by Laguna. My thought is to just try sculping some small simple animals, figures etc.
I realize that sculpting like all mediums has good grade and poor grade. Some not even worth the effort to use....
I work mostly in gouache and oil so this would be a new medium for me.

What are your opinions on this type of clay?

I appreciate your input......

Best,
Kathy :)

[max nelson]

MKathleen...welcome to the sculpture forum. Wish I had some input on the air dry clay but never used it. I am thinking that it will probably work somewhat different than others but should give satisfactory results. Does the pak give any indications as to shrinkage or other characteristics? I'm sure somebody here is familiar with and sooner or later will give you the info you nee. In any case, you already have it, so make something..and show us.:)
Max

[MKathleen]

Hello Max:

Thank you for the welcome there are some really talented artist's on this forum.
There is no information regarding shrinkage on the box. It says that Dry Hard Clay is a specially formulated clay which can be modeled, sculpted, thrown on a potter's wheel or used for hand building projects. States it will dry enough to handle within 24 hours, and will cure hard in 2-3 days.
It gives directions on the box for slab construction and rolling a coil. Also how to store the clay in an air-tight container.
So I guess the only thing is to give it a go and see what happens. I'll post my results for comment yea or nay--ha ha...Thank you for taking the time to comment on my question.
There is a Junior Collage in the next town (close) that has a good art department. If I take to clay I will enroll for a summer session on clay sculpting.

Best,
Kathy

[diane555]

WELCOME to the sculpture forum Kathy!!! :clap:

It always makes my day when I see a new face in here! I have tried several brands of air-dry clays, although I am not familiar with that particular brand. I have picked up two different one to try also. I am sure it will work fine for what you want to do. It also avoids the problem of having to kiln dry, mold or cast the piece at this point... Just have some fun with it.

One thing I have read repeatedly is that it is very important to dry the objects slowly...many suggest covering the sculpture with a damp cloth to avoid cracking during the drying process. This will help the thicker areas to dry more evenly with thin parts.

As with any sculpting medium you may have a few small areas to repair after the object is dry and this can be easily done with a bit of the original mix. Most sculptors have to do small repairs on their pieces. You might also consider playing around with some poly clay such as Sculpy or Fimo. I have seen beautiful pieces done in these oven dry clays.

Can't wait to see what you create! And I'm sure you will get lots of yea's ....we are always thrilled to see new work on here.

Have a great day
Di

[MKathleen]

Hi Di:

Thank you for the warm welcome! I really appreciate you taking the time to give me your thoughts and tips. I'll certainly keep them in mind as I work. The slow drying sounds like a very good idea and I'll do that very thing. Will have to check back with you all about the repair procedure.

You mentioned ploymer clay, I have had some experience with that medium. It's probably the closest thing I've worked with as relates to clay. But I want to work with the real thing! I suspect that the air dry clay isn't the real deal either, but for now close enough.

I'm attaching an image of the small sculpture I did of my cherished dogs Lady and Tootsie. I have a fish sculpture in ploymer clay that I've been painting on also. That is the extent of my ploymer clay work.

Ploymer Clay "Sculpty" white then I painted it with acrylic paints.
I made wire figures to start with then covered with tin foil for my support for the ploymer clay.

Best,
Kathy

[marilyn h]

This is so lovely! You have done so well. I believe if you had real clay and kiln privileges you would create magic. Very nice!

[MKathleen]

Hi Marilyn H:

Thank you so much for your generious compliment I really appreciate it.
I love the feel of clay and the thought of being able to build something with my hands is so exciting.

Best,
Kathy :)

[Yielding]

A warm welcome to the sculpture forum Kathy. Can't answer your questions so just wanted to say welcome. A lot of great people in here.

[MKathleen]

Hello Yielding:

Thank YOU too, for the warm welcome I really appreciate it very much. I don't know how far I'll go with clay, but I do have the interest. Now I want to see if I have the will, and dedication to learn.

Best,
Kathy:)

[kjsspot]

Originally posted by MKathleen
I'm attaching an image of the small sculpture I did of my cherished dogs Lady and Tootsie

WONDERFUL!! Don't give up on scupey either! However, I would consider moving up to a higer grade of sculpey. Sculpey III or Premo Sculpey is a higher grade and is much more durable.

These little dogs are great! Do ya know, if you made yourself a series of 6 in sculpey, you can try to sell them to one of the mints. Just an idea!

[MKathleen]

kjsspot yikkes, I don't think my work is that good let alone be considered to sell to one of the mints. Maybe someday!

You all are the good ones I have to learn and strive to meet your quality of workmanship.

Thank you again,
Best,
Kathy

[max nelson]

Kathy..on one of your other post you commented about yourself, "beginner, beginner, beginner". I have three words for you..fibber, fibber, fibber.:D :D These are great and with true to life action. Now 'fess up.
:) Max

[MKathleen]

Kathy..on one of your other post you commented about yourself, "beginner, beginner, beginner". I have three words for you..fibber, fibber, fibber. These are great and with true to life action. Now 'fess up.

Max: I wish I knew which post you were referring too! I do consider myself a beginner, beginner, beginner though. Maybe you were thinking of someone else mine is just one little sculpture piece in this thread. If it was my thread you were referring to then I really take your remarks as a big compliment. If it wasn't entended for me then the person you were referring to is very lucky.
My second piece:
Below is the ploymer fish sculpture I'm painting on at present. This has been an on going project I've just started playing around with color idea's.
Ploymer Clay 6" h x 8" w
The green plant leaf/sword on the right was taller but it broke off so I lost about an inch off the top. It was one of the places I didn't extend the wire support far enough. Not quite sure how to add an extension can't rebake.
Critique welcome.......

Best,
Kathy

[max nelson]

Kathy...this looks terrific from what I can see. The image is rather small but even so can see that you captured the form very well and the composition is also very good. Too bad about the piece breaking off. Not knowing much about the sculpey stuff can only suggest that maybe you could sculpt the broken piece part again, bake it and glue it on with perhaps a small 'pin' of some sort to reinforce the joint.
:) Max

[MKathleen]

Hi Max:

Thank you very much for looking at my fish sculpture. I really appreciate your comments--you have a terrific idea for the repair.
I'll give it a try and let you know how it turns out.
I just finished uploading one of my paintings into the Oil Forum entitled Saguaro if you would like to see my work. It's also in the Landscape Forum....As I recall your also a painter.
Thanks again for looking

Best,
Kathy

[MKathleen]

Hi Max:

Sorry forgot to send a larger image of the fish sculpture. I need to take a better image isn't the greatest.

Best,
Kathy

[max nelson]

OK Kathy..just like Perry Mason, always get my perpetrator.
Recognize this: "Di your sculpture is great the progressive images are really helpful to someone like me beginner, beginner, beginner! " Now step forwarding for sentencing.:D
Max
and I really like your saguaros:) :)

[MKathleen]

Max you varmit! :o I forgot I had posted those very words to Di's thread. Standing my ground I'm still a beginner, beginner, beginner. My fish sculpture should prove that fact! What is my sentence for having a lapse of memory "huge a saguaro"? yikkes.......

Glad you liked my saguaro sent you a reply in the Oil Forum.

Best,
Kathy :D :o

[diane555]

Kathy: I see you all have been busy in here while I was away eh? Wow! Your pieces are terrific! What you mean...beginner beginner beginner? LOL The little dogs are wonderful! You are definitely a natural kathy :) I am afraid we artists are often our own worst critics. Kathy, you are definitely a sculptor and now that you have been found guilty....we will be expecting lots of posts from you :D It doesn't matter what medium one works in, be it paper, clay, old chewing gum LOL, it's what you create with it!

My husband & I recently went to a 'Works In Clay' show at a small gallery in Philadelphia which featured artists from around the world. Wow! I was amazed at what a lot of artists are doing, and, a little disappointed I must admit. I would enjoy seeing the works of the artists featured here in the sculpture forum over almost all of what they had to offer.

Oh, by the way, in the future I hope you will start a new thread for each piece you show here because you may be missing viewers under a title such as this one. Some people come into this forum just to view the art work and look at the titles for which ones to check out. So.....here's waiting for your next post :)

Di

[MKathleen]

Di, Thank you, for your wonderful compliments I'm so humbled by your comments. Now I'm really fired even more to create with clay! Is it possible to be humbled and fired at the same time? Better to be humbled than pumbled and fired! tee hee.

I'm so fired I had my acrylic nails removed before Christmas Day!!!!!

Working on sketches for a mother bear and two cubs right now. I want to put them in a stream with rocks all around. Thought is too also add a nice big salmon shes just landed. Sketching and looking at the red clay and wire. Anxious to get started...

Your trip to the PA. Sculpture Gallery sounds like it was interesting. I know what you mean about being both amazed and disappointed in sculpture styles. I think it's like painting there are paintings you like and ones you don't. Everyone is doing their own thing. I agree that there are some terrific Sculpture Artisians in this forum. Would be nice to see you all have a Gallery Show. Where we could actually see the works all together in person!

Yes, I will in the future post my work to a new thread.

Best,
Kathy :)